Giants Lock in Harbaugh, Build Out Power Structure With Schoen, Aponte, and Nagy
The Giants' pursuit of John Harbaugh wasn’t just a coaching search-it was a full-on organizational pivot, and now that the dust has settled, we’re starting to see how deep the changes run.
Harbaugh’s arrival in New York was headline material from the jump. His visit became a media spectacle, right down to the now-infamous dinner at Elia Mediterranean Restaurant, which quickly became known as the setting where the Giants made their pitch. But while the optics suggested a quick courtship, the actual agreement came together more slowly-and with some serious negotiation behind the scenes.
The sticking point? Reporting structure.
Harbaugh didn’t want to report to GM Joe Schoen. He wanted the same setup he had in Baltimore: direct access to ownership.
Specifically, he wanted both himself and Schoen to report directly to owner John Mara.
According to Harbaugh, Mara wasn’t immediately on board. “He really wasn’t there yet,” Harbaugh said, recalling their conversation.
“He was trying to process it all, and I explained to John why it was important for me.” Harbaugh emphasized that while the chain of command might not change how the team operates day to day, it mattered to him personally.
“I already had that in Baltimore. It wasn’t new.
I wasn’t comfortable not being that way.”
Eventually, Mara relented. “We have an agreement,” he told Harbaugh. “Welcome to the New York Giants.”
Since then, Harbaugh and Schoen have gotten off to a strong start. By all accounts, their working relationship has been collaborative and productive.
“I had high expectations for Joe,” Harbaugh said. “And I would say he’s lived up to those high expectations.”
The two are in near-constant communication, hashing out everything from staff hires to contract details and permission requests for potential assistants.
That partnership is already shaping the Giants’ new football infrastructure. One notable move?
The hiring of Dawn Aponte as Senior VP of Football Operations. Aponte, who previously worked at the NFL league office, now reports directly to Harbaugh-not Schoen.
That’s another clear sign of the power structure Harbaugh wanted in place, and by all indications, he played a major role in bringing Aponte aboard.
When it came to filling out his staff, Harbaugh didn’t land every target. His first choice for offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, ended up taking the Browns’ head coaching job.
But Harbaugh didn’t settle-he pivoted to Matt Nagy, who most recently coordinated the Chiefs’ offense. And he’s not shy about his expectations.
“Of course,” Harbaugh said when asked if Nagy could be just as good as Monken. “I expect Matt to be the best ever. I’m hoping he’ll be the best offensive coordinator to ever coach the game; that’s what we’re shooting for.”
On the defensive side, Harbaugh eventually landed on Dennard Wilson as his DC. The recommendation came from Jesse Minter-Harbaugh’s successor in Baltimore-who vouched for Wilson as a fit for what the Giants are building.
Cowboys Round Out Coaching Staff With Fuller, Symons
Meanwhile in Dallas, the Cowboys are quietly making some strategic additions of their own. The team is bringing in Kyle Fuller as assistant offensive line coach, a move that adds depth and perspective to a unit that’s been a cornerstone of their identity in recent years.
They’re also tapping into the college ranks to bolster their defensive staff, hiring SMU defensive coordinator Scott Symons to coach the inside linebackers. It’s a move that brings fresh eyes and energy to a position group that could use a spark.
While these hires may not grab national headlines the way Harbaugh’s move to New York did, they’re important pieces in the Cowboys’ effort to refine and reinforce their coaching infrastructure heading into next season.
Bottom Line
The Giants are clearly all-in on John Harbaugh-not just as a head coach, but as a central figure in reshaping the organization’s football operations. From reporting structure to staff hires, Harbaugh’s fingerprints are all over this new era in New York. And if his early collaboration with Schoen and the additions of Aponte, Nagy, and Wilson are any indication, the Giants are betting big on a unified, top-down vision.
In Dallas, the moves are more understated, but no less intentional. Fuller and Symons bring credibility and fresh perspective to key areas of the staff. Both franchises are setting the table for what they hope will be a new chapter of competitive football-and they’re doing it by building from the inside out.